TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 8

TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

(Frok Our Oww Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, December 7. I had an interesting interview with Mr Jamoa George this afternoon on South Africa^ affair?. Mr George has been acting for tho Chrislchurch Meat Company, Wood Bros., and Kaye and Carter, Christchurch firms. He recently went up to Kimberley with a number of the officers and men who were going to join Colonel Baden-Powell. He says they were all very keen, and a fine set of fellows, the pick of the South African men, ready for anything. Everyone spoke highly of Colonel Baden-Powell, who was the rart of man who inspired confidence in all who came in contact with him. Indeed, it wac hi'j men and the Nalal Carbineers whom the Boers fuared the most, though since then added Mr George, they had some occasion to fpar the British soldier as well. Mr George's mission, however, is one of peace, for he comes here with the intention of opening up a New Zealand trade with South Africa, and he thinks if a line of hteamera were subsidised to_ Durban a very profitable trade would spring up. There will, he says, be a large demand for mutton, but there will be no use sending our fat, heavy sheep. Second-clafcs mutton is what is wanted. The difficulty in the way at present is the want of cold storage accommodation in Johannesburg. Combranks, a wealthy proprietary, have tho only depot, and they " practically have a monopoly! Their princi-

pal depot is in Capetown, but the De Beers Company will be opening stores?- in Gapeto'wn in January next. "If you have direct communication," said Mr George, in reply to further questions, " there is a likelihood of au enormous trade, but it must be worked up very carefully. You must not rush at it the_ same as 'the Australians have done. In their case produce has been sent on consignment to agents, who have been unscrupulous in their dealings — so much so, in deed, that some of the merchants there were at first indispose! to speak to anyone coming from this side of tho water. The Australians have paid very dearly for their South African trade, that I am convinced of. At present the butchers have contracts with Combranks, and till these expire in 12 or 18 months, it would be folly to rush in mutton and dairy produce for the simple reason - that the butchers could not buy from anyone but the firm to which they are bound by agreement. Indeed, Combranks would be the only people who could take it, and they would only buy at prices that would bo ruinous to the shipper. They are at present masters of the situation." In answer to a question as to whether our woollen goods would sell in South Africa, Mr George said he was afraid they would not. He took some Kaiapoi blankets to Harvey, Greenacre, and Co., the Whiteleys of South' Africa, and the manager said they were ,the finest blankets he had ever seen in . South Africa, but the trouble was they were too good. The 1 people wanted cheaper goods. Tho only thing in that line that we could sell would be our rugF. Mr George hopes that things- will be fairly settled by March .y.*>i.l to permit o£ businet'3 being- opened up in a largo way. After the war he sajy there will be a tremendous business impetus. I suppose," ' queried the interviewer, "a lot of money will be made after the war?" "Oh, yee," replied Mr George, "money will flow down the streets of Johannesburg like water. The number of new mines proposed is surprising." Johannesburg itself is only scratched, and is anticipated to last 200 years, and that, mark you. is only one place amongst others. The whole of the Transvaal is bursting with mineral wealth. At such places as Heidelberg and Pretoria there are rich mineral deposits, with the addition of diamonds at the latter place. Oom Paul,however, has avid thai he will not have any more mining camps, because he hos had sufficient trouble with Johanesburg." "Won't the burghers turn on Oom Paul after they have been defeated?" "Oh, no: they won't turn on Oom Paul. He has such a powerful influence over them because of tho religious element in his character, which appeals to the Dutch very strongly. They look upon him as a sort of Saviour of their country." " What about the intervention of the women. You will see from, the recent cables that they wish the war at an end?" "Yes, I havo been expecting that, and I -think it will probably be a new feature in the affair altogether. There is no getting away from the faci., however, that this is the most righteous war England has .ever w aged. It is not a question of the franchise or of the Transvaal, but of British supremacy in South Africa. Tho-whole of- South Africa lias' been honeycombed with sedition. For the last • eighl-'years it- has been working- up to this, .and tho Boers have only been "■waiting their opportunity. I.hqye lived amongst them for nme year?, and -I know them to be a brave people, but I do r.ot consider them the shots they 'are cracked up to be. The Boer leaders havo- been making the Dopj-.ers and the ignorant Dutch believe that their independence vat? threatened, and that' their existence was at stake." "What about Cecil Rhodes?" "Rhodes is the finest man in South Africa to-day ; there is no doubt, about it. His words are now crming true, and his career is only just beginning."